Cubmaster’s Minute: Threads and Flags

The core value for Cub Scouts in November is citizenship. Here is a Cubmaster’s Minute which goes well with that theme. Use it at the end of your pack meeting.

This Cubmaster’s Minute is based on one found in the old program helps.

Cubmaster’s Minute: Threads and Flags

Hold up a piece of thread

Look at this thread. By itself it isn’t very strong.

Break the thread.

But put lots of threads together and they make up our country’s flag.

Point to the flag.

Each little thread works with the others to make the flag strong. In the same way, our country is made of many individuals, like you and me. If we work alone, we might not accomplish much. But if we join together, we can do great things.

As we close our meeting tonight, show your respect to the flag that represents us all by saluting.

5 Responses to Cubmaster’s Minute: Threads and Flags

That’s a pretty powerful message. But does it make sense to do that with an international den/pack? Our den has kids from 5 different (non-us) countries – parents here for jobs – so I always feel a little awkward getting too over the top with patriotism stuff. Thoughts?

We are Americans and should be proud of our Nation and its Flag. Why would we not teach patriotism to our youth? When in another country we respect their ways, likewise our nation should be respected by others visiting here. By not showing patriotism and teaching it are we weakening our threads or our nation? I would rather teach proper respect than have a guilty consentience of not having done so. I am proud to be an American I will teach and lead by example. You could have each of the boys from other nations teach about their nation.

When their kids go to school here do they not learn AMERICAN history? I think the fact that they are here working and have enrolled their sons in the Boy Scouts of AMERICA is pretty telling of what their future citizenship plans are. it is no secret that scouting is a patriotic based organization that emphasizes citizenship. can you think of a better place to educate future citizens? They may grow up to be some of our strongest threads.

Thanks for bringing this up. We’re part of the TransAtlantic Council, with a pack in Turkey. We have 8 (maybe 9 now) different nationalities in our Pack. If you keep the terms about the flag generic (flags in general) this would be fine – but I’d love to see some suggestions for global citizenship, which would be much more applicable to Packs with a lot of diversity.

I agree Cindy. While we are the American Cub Scouts, it is important to also consider the individual scout’s nationality as well as the location of the Pack. We are also part of the TAC in Dresden, Germany. We don’t have any US military or government association so our scouts come from many different backgrounds. More information on how to teach the messages with a more international outlook would be a great help! Subjects like citizenship can be taught as “good citizens” not only “citizens of America”. That’s my approach anyway.